International student from the Czech Republic at Seward County Community College and passionate photographer for the Crusader Jakub Stepanovic plays a game of pool with Crusader assistant teacher Matthew Adkins at Hale Court Wednesday night. L&T photos/Giseelle Arredondo

By GISEELLE ARREDONDO

• Leader & Times

Turkey, family and giving thanks. For some international students, it’s a concept that doesn’t necessarily go overseas.

Jakub Stepanovic is an international student from the Czech Republic who is a sophomore at Seward County Community College and a talented photographer for the Crusader. He sees Thanksgiving from a different perspective.

Stepanovic noted that Thanksgiving is not a holiday that’s celebrated back at home.

“If you go back to history and you found what Thanksgiving is for, you find that it’s just an American tradition,” he said.

This year will signify his second time around Thanksgiving, however, and he said he has grown to think of it as enjoyable.

“It’s kinda cool. Why not? Celebrate things here and have a reason, but celebrate things back in Europe or in China – Why someone there should celebrate Indians corporation? It’s local tradition,” he said.

Stepanovic will celebrate it in his own special way: traveling.

“It’s not a special day for me. I will think about it everyday equal, but since there will be a break, I’m thinking to seek Fort Worth-Dallas area. That would be pretty cool, I think. I like cities. I like traveling. I will go there and see architechture, see places, see different people.”

So will Jakub be eating turkey?

“Why not?” he said and laughed. “Yeah. Last year I ate a ton of turkey. A lot. It’s good.”

When it comes to being grateful, Stepanovic is just like his peers, though. He notes that he’s thankful for his experiences.

“A whole bunch of stuff. Well, just part of my philosophy is being thankful for a lot of things that actually make me keep a positive approach, which keep me in a good mood, which keep me in a good shape,” he said.

“Every positive thing that happen to me. Sometimes even negative because you can learn from negative stuff some positive information,” he continued.

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